rare as rockinghorse shat wrote:Have to say Scaloni, that midfield would get ripped apart without a defensive minded player.I'm sure Noble or Mullins will be back.

Worst comes to worst, I'd play Neill in there.

Well, obviously, if Noble or Mullins are fit (or Quashie, for that matter) they've got to play. Suppose Neill or Spector could play DM, with the other at RB. It's not something I want to think about, though.

Porfirio wrote:given how poor etherington was tonight and Curbs still wouldn't put Reid on you have to wonder if he rates him at all.

Was Etherington that poor? Thought he was our only player with any sort of creativity, to be honest. You could actually see on his face as he went to cross it the frustration at nobody being in the box a few times, though, which was funny.

Porfirio wrote:given how poor etherington was tonight and Curbs still wouldn't put Reid on you have to wonder if he rates him at all.

Was Etherington that poor? Thought he was our only player with any sort of creativity, to be honest. You could actually see on his face as he went to cross it the frustration at nobody being in the box a few times, though, which was funny.

Lacking defensively, gave the ball away cheaply quite often. The coventry goal did seem to wake him (and a few others) up. But if he'd been halfway decent tonight he would have forced Misfud to do far more tracking back which would have stopped one of Coventry's main outlets.

I think it is vital that we win the midfield battle on Sunday. I therefore would play 4-3-3 with Boa Morte and Etherington playing wide. They are both very good at getting back and helping the full backs. The problem last night was getting midfielders up to help Cole. The situation was not helped when Noble went off injured. If he is not fit on Sunday, maybe Spector can play this role. He had a couple of runs forward and appears to have the speed and energy to do it. If Mullins is not fit I would play Pansil instead of Solarno. I know he was not very good last night against Coventry but we need another defensive-minded player in the midfield. Solarno can be brought on if need someone to unlock the Bolton defence in the second half. I would also bring on Camara from the subs bench. It is very difficult for the lone striker to play 90 minutes.

Porfirio wrote:given how poor etherington was tonight and Curbs still wouldn't put Reid on you have to wonder if he rates him at all.

Was Etherington that poor? Thought he was our only player with any sort of creativity, to be honest. You could actually see on his face as he went to cross it the frustration at nobody being in the box a few times, though, which was funny.

Lacking defensively, gave the ball away cheaply quite often. The coventry goal did seem to wake him (and a few others) up. But if he'd been halfway decent tonight he would have forced Misfud to do far more tracking back which would have stopped one of Coventry's main outlets.

i make you right.. a very frustrating,and all too similar one, from matty.. defensivley he was always a pace or three away, didnt show as an outlet for ringo, and never really got away..did better towards the end of the second half, but against championship fodder, should have done better

Porfirio wrote:given how poor etherington was tonight and Curbs still wouldn't put Reid on you have to wonder if he rates him at all.

Was Etherington that poor? Thought he was our only player with any sort of creativity, to be honest. You could actually see on his face as he went to cross it the frustration at nobody being in the box a few times, though, which was funny.